Deep
Blue Sea 2 (2017/Warner
Blu-ray w/DVD)/Emanuelle &
The Last Cannibals
(1977*)/Enigma Russo
(1978/Icarus/Doppelganger/Scorpion Blu-ray)/I
Kill Giants
(2017/Image/RLJ Blu-ray)/Moon
Child (1989/Cult Epics
Blu-ray w/DVD)/Violence In
A Women's Prison
(1982/*Severin Blu-rays)
Picture:
B+ & B/B/B-/B+/B & C+/B Sound: B & B-/B/B/B/B &
C+/B Extras: C/B/C/B/C+/B- Films: C/B/C+/B/C/B
Here's
a good mix of old and new thrillers, some with fantasy, others with
exploitation...
When
Deep
Blue Sea
was released in 1999, it became something of a cult hit and to this
day is one of the more memorable (and violent) shark movies outside
of the Jaws
franchise. This tired and slapped together sequel, Deep
Blue Sea 2
(2017) follows essentially the same narrative structure only with a
less interesting cast you don't really care whether or not they get
eaten by genetically enhanced sharks or not. Complete with some
cringe-worthy dialogue, this film will make you want to watch the
original film again and marvel at how much better it is than this.
Deep
Blue Sea 2
stars Danielle Savre, Michael Beach, Rob Mayes, Lily Spangenberg,
Darron Meyer, and Nathan Lynn.
A
shark conservationist Dr. Misty Calhoun (Savre) gets drawn to a sea
based facility run by an insane billionaire Carl Durant (Michael
Beach, who is essentially playing the Samuel L. Jackson character).
Once Calhoun and a group of other roughnecks and scientists get to
the facility, they discover that the sharks are indeed smarter and
more furious than they originally bargained for... and pregnant! The
hungry sharks (and their babies) turn on the humans and start to sink
the facility, where the human prey must struggle to survive.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio of
1.78:1 and a nice sounding DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix.
The film is shot like a television show and isn't too cinematic for
the most part. One of the highlights of the original film was the
Trevor Rabin (of Yes) score, which sadly has been replaced by an
unimpressive and generic action score here. Also included is a
standard definition, anamorphically
enhanced
DVD with compressed specs and a lossy 5.1 Dolby Digital mix. A
digital HD copy is offered too.
Special
Features include...
Returning
to the Deep: The Making of Deep Blue Sea 2
featurette
Deep
Blue Sea 2: Death by Shark
featurette
Gag
Reel
Deleted
Scenes
Aside
from a few good gore moments, Deep
Blue Sea 2
is essentially a bad remake of the first. Had they included one of
the original surviving characters or even acted as if the original
existed, it could have been a bit more interesting. But this is just
a lazy reimagining trying to cash in on brand recognition a decade
too late.
Laura
Gemser (Black
Emanuelle)
is one of the most beautiful women to have ever graced the silver
screen and if you don't think so after watching Joe D'Amato's
Emanuelle
and the Last Cannibals
(1977) and Bruno Mattei's Violence
in a Women's Prison
(1982) then you may need your eyes checked.
Never
available in such a glorious high def state, these two films are sure
to entertain any cult or B-movie fan. Keep in mind that when these
films were made, they weren't afraid to show a little skin or extreme
violence to impress the fan base... not like today when filmmakers
tend to hold back out of fear of insulting someone. These are gritty
and relentlessly entertaining cinematic experiences!
Emanuelle
and the Last Cannibals
aka Trap
Them and Kill Them!
That
Emanuelle girl is back.. and more EROTIC and EXOTIC than ever!
Not
just a skin flick, but actually a pretty good cannibal film too,
Emanuelle
and the Last Cannibals
is a low budget gore fest with a fun screenplay that will both arouse
and entertain. Co-starring Gemser's real life husband, Gabrielle
Tinti, Emanuelle (a sexy journalist) and a group of explorers journey
to the Amazon jungle in search of a missing girl and end up instead
discovering an extinct group of bloodthirsty cannibals! On a fight
for their lives, the group gets devoured one by one as Emanuelle
fights for her life to get off the island and survive!
The
film also stars Nieves Navarro, Donald O'Brien, Percy Hogan, and
Monica Zanchi.
Remastered
in 2K high definition and presented in 1080p on Blu-ray disc with a
widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and a PCM 2.0 Mono track, the film
simply has never looked or sounded as good as it does here. While a
bit of grain is evident, it only adds to the grindhouse feel of the
film and puts Nico Fidencio's epic soundtrack front and center in the
mix. There's several audio tracks on the disc including a dubbed
English track and an original Italian track with English subs
depending on your personal preference.
Special
Features include...
The
World of Nico Fedenco
- an interview with the composer (27 min)
A
Run Among the Cannibals
- an interview with actress Annamaria Clementi (23 min)
Dr.
O'Brien MD
- an interview with actor Donald O'Brien (19 min)
From
Switzerland to Mato Grosso
- an interview with actress Monica Zanchi (19 min)
I
Am Your Black Queen
- brief audio commentary by actress Laura Gemser (11 min)
Original
trailer
Website
Only - Limited edition slip cover AND exclusive Laura Gemser pin.
Violence
in a Women's Prison
aka Emanuelle
In Prison
aka Caged
Women
Director
Bruno Mattei (Shocking
Dark)
is a highly underrated filmmaker and it shows here in his 'women in
prison' movie, Violence
in a Women's Prison,
which embraces the sub genre. Also starring Laura Gemser (in a role
written for her) Violence
has all of the sadistic guards, saucy lesbians, and more violent girl
on girl attacks than any sleaze fan can handle!
The
film also stars Gabriele Tinti, Maria Romano, Ursula Flores,
Antonella Giacomini, and Franco Caracciolo.
Emanuelle
(Gemser) goes undercover as an inmate at a female prison but ends up
becoming a prisoner herself! Put through hell and back, Emanuelle
ends up facing a horrific life behind bars.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a
2.0 LPCM Mono track, the film looks and sounds up to Blu-ray
standards despite its age and low budget nature. Like the Last
Cannibals
disc, there is some grain but it adds more to the experience than
detracts.
Special
Features include...
Brawl
In Women's Block
- Interview With Co-Director/Co-Writer Claudio Fragasso and Co-Writer
Rossella Drudi
Archival
Interview with Director Bruno Mattei aka Vincent Dawn
Radio
Spot
Severin
continues to deliver the goods with these two films, which are really
quite better than you may expect them to be!
A
weird little Italian murder mystery, Enigma
Rosso
(1978) is a spooky detective story centered around the murder of a
teenage girl. The prime suspects are three very close girlfriends of
similar age who call them 'The Inseparables.' Could they be
responsible for this young girl's death? We follow the case as it
unfolds through the eyes of a detective and from the perspective of
the girls themselves, which crafts an interesting narrative and isn't
entirely predictable. This isn't your normal procedural crime drama
as there's plenty of sleaze and nudity to help spice things up.
Directed
by Alberto Negrin, the film stars Fabio Testi, Christine Kaufmann,
Ivan Desny, Jack Taylor, and Bruno Alessandro. It's worth noting
that this film was originally scheduled to be released on Blu-ray
from Code Red but ended up finding a home at Doppelganger Releasing
and Scorpion.
Presented
in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray disc with its original widescreen
aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and remastered audio tracks in DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 2.0 Mono tracks in Italian and English. The film
looks pretty good and has had 'extensive color correction' as the
back of the box claims but isn't flawless as it still shows plenty of
signs of minor damages and some film artifacts apparent. Overall,
I'm sure this is the best the film has looked in years and is mostly
clean.
Special
Features...
Audio
Commentary with Historian Nathaniel Thompson
Trailers
I
Kill Giants
(2017) is
an interesting genre film that I'm surprised didn't get more press or
attention upon its initial release. Mixing fantasy with
family/psychological drama, the film is based on a graphic novel of
the same name written by Joe Kelly (Deadpool,
Big
Hero 6).
From
the producers of the Harry
Potter
films, but much darker, the story centers around a socially
disconnected girl named Barbara Thorson (Madison Wolfe) who lives
half in reality and half in a fantasy type world where she battles
giants. Due to her bad attitude and the poor way she treats (nearly)
everyone who comes in contact with her, Barbara is constantly getting
herself in trouble at school and battles demons both imaginary and
real.
The
film co-stars Zoe Saldana, Imogen Poots, Jennifer Ehle, and Noel
Clarke.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and
a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix, the presentation is up
to standards and doesn't have many glaring issues. The film has
great production design and interesting cinematography, which comes
across nicely here. It almost has the look/tone of a Tim Burton film
but not as cartoony.
Special
Features...
The
Making of I Kill Giants
featurette
Anatomy
of a Scene
featurette
I
Kill Giants Graphic Novel: Chapter 1
featurette
Photo
Gallery
I
Kill Giants
is a drama first and foremost, but plays in the world of fantasy when
trying to make its point about one's psychological state. Zack
Snyder should have probably leaned more this route with his
critically lambasted Sucker
Punch
as both films share a similar theme in escapism over reality.
Definitely worth checking out if you're a genre fan.
This
weird, artsy Spanish Sci-Fi film is likely to make you feel a bit
icky after you watch it as it isn't afraid to go against the norm and
deliver truly unsettling moments. Released in 1989 under the title
El
Nino de la luna,
Cult Epics presents Agusti Villaronga's Moon
Child
in 1080p Blu-ray for the first time in America.
The
film centers around a twelve year old boy named David who ends up
having exceptional supernatural abilities. Facing his destiny as
'the Child of the Moon', a scientific cult embraces him and takes him
on a physical and spiritual journey that shells out his true
callings.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a 1.65:1 widescreen aspect ratio
(original ratio was 1.85:1) and complete with a Spanish DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 2.0 (mono or simple stereo, its hard to tell) track,
the film has been nicely restored here from its original 35mm film
elements and has a detailed sound mix with some interesting design
work. Although some scenes are evident with grain, character details
are pretty sharp and capture a wide range of atmospheres, from the
sterile white and tan walls of the institution to some of the more
stylized sets. The score by Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator)
and the dark wave band Dead Can Dance is eerie and unsettling and
definitely helps establish the film's odd style.
Also
included is a standard definition, anamorphically
enhanced DVD
with similar, yet compressed, features that are fine for the format
but not as impressive as the Blu-ray. The Spanish audio track is in
a compressed/lossy 2.0 Dolby Digital track.
Special
Features...
New
Interview with Agusti Villaronga (2018)
Lobby
Cards photo gallery
Isolated
Score tracks by Dead Can Dance gathered exclusively for this release
Original
trailers
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/